Lawrence Elcock began his Karate training in Bedford with Shotokan Karate International in 1974, grading under the world renowned Karate Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa. Lawrence found that this early training formed a good foundation to his future in Karate  this was all due to his instructor at the time Sensei John Van Weenen who later formed an Association along side some of his peers.

In 1980 Lawrence won the English Shotokan Karate Association National Championships and in the next few years added titles such as East Anglian Open Karate Championships, Southern Karate Championships, East midlands Open Karate Championships and many more team and individual titles. Now a 6th dan, Lawrence has competed in a multitude of Kumite events at national and international level.

But the most significant event in his Karate career was the visit he made to Japan in 1984 to train with the some of Japan’s finest instructors. This experience proved to be the inspiration he needed to dedicate his future to training and teaching Karate.

Lawrence’s first club was opened in Milton Keynes at Stantonbury Leisure Centre in 1990. Having taught Shotokan Karate for some years, he formed his own association in 1995 called Bushido (The word Bushido means the Warriors Code which aptly sums up Lawrence’s attitude and spirit towards his Karate). In 1998 he met the instructor who would prove to be the turning point in his Karate the legendary Shihan Akio Minakami, who to this day continues to be Lawrence’s guiding light. His love of karate has never diminished and he still teaches and trains with Shihan Akio Minakami whenever he visits the United Kingdom.

Lawrence teaches many classes in the UK and internationally. Lawrence is a fine teacher with a vast amount of knowledge he is a dedicated and enthusiastic practitioner and teacher of Karate.

The Students philosophy.
“Thy modesty’s a candle to thy merit.” – Henry Fielding 1707 – 1754.

The Instructors philosophy.
“A leader is best when people barely know they exist. When the best leader’s work is done, people think they’ve done it themselves.”

 Lao Tzu circa 531Bc